The total loss of landings to global fisheries by 2050 due to climate change range from USD 17 to 41 billion based on a global warming scenario of 2 degrees.

Fishery yields will increase 30 – 70% in high latitudes but fall by 40 – 60% in the Tropics and Antarctica based on 2 degrees of warming. Large species like tuna in the Pacific and Indian oceans are likely to move eastwards.

400 hundred million people depend critically on fish for their food and face reduced access to marine protein because of climate change and acidification. Artisanal fishermen in the Tropics are most at risk.

Changes in the distribution of particular marine species may lead to conflict between fishing nations and significant increases in illegal fishing.

The impacts of climate change and ocean acidification are generally exacerbated by other factors like pollution, habitat loss and over-fishing

The briefing, and an associated infographic, is being distributed across the seafood industry with a call for action to address this global threat.

Commenting on the report, Chris Brown, Senior Director, Sustainable Business, Asda Walmart said: “There is a growing threat of climate change and acidification to the marine resources upon which we rely. This report is a timely reminder of the pace of change in the oceans and the need for those of us with direct and indirect stakes in the seafood industry to promote action at every level.”

Blake Lee-Harwood of Sustainable Fisheries Partnership added:

“This report is a wake up call for the seafood industry to recognise the scale of the threat to ocean resources from climate change and acidification. We need to see urgent action in trying to mitigate the likely impacts while adapting wherever that’s practically possible.”

Eliot Whittington of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership said: “This briefing highlights the business-critical implications of climate change for the fisheries sector, representing tens of billions of dollars in future costs and damages for the industry. Companies in this sector will have to take the implications of climate science into account as they plan for the future. We hope that this briefing, developed with experts from both business and science, will help them do so.”

The briefing cites areas where action can be taken to lessen the impact of climate change:

Adapt where possible – for instance, some shellfish hatcheries in the northwest USA have learned to avoid taking in seawater during periods of high acidity